Figure toy



Jan. 10, 1933. ANDERSON 1,894,144

FIGURE TOY Filed March 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 wu ovvto'b Froizman 19' nders or),

Jan. 10, 1933. F. ANDERSON 1,894,144

FIGURE TOY Filed March 11,,1932 2 Sheets$heet 2 SYWC/WM Frolmwm flmfcrson,

Patented Jan. 10, 1933 tint i FFHCE FRDHMAN ANDERSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 ALL FAIR INCORPO- RATED, 0E CHURCHVILLE, NEW

YQRK, A CQRFORATICN OF NEW YORK FIGURE TOY Application filed March 11, 1932.

This invention relates to figure toys and has for one object the provision of a toy simulating a jumping or leaping frog provided with means to create a barking or creaking noise operable as the toy is moved over a supporting surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a figure toy simulating a jumping or leaping frog, assuming alternately a sitting position and a stretched out or leaping pos1- tion, and upon reaching one of these positions emitting a sound characteristic of the barking or croaking noise of a frog.

A still further object resides in the provision of a jumping or leaping frog or other amphibian or living thing, particularly of the jumping and leaping type.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereiafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings Figurel is a side elevation of the invention, for purpose of illustration, showing a frog in sitting position prior to a jumping or leaping action.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View on the line 33.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention showing the frog in the act of jumping, the hind legs thereof being extended.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the reference character A indicates a body simulating a frog, and which may be composed of a strip formed to take the shape of the back 1 of the frog, to which may be secured a strip 2 shaped to form the head 8 and the mouth 4 of the frog.

59 These strips may be composed of wood or of Serial No. 598,276.

any other suitable material, and it will be understood that while the body of a frog is illustrated, that the body may be that of any type of amphibian or the like.

Side members 5, both formed alike and composed of cardboard or any other suitable material, may be tacked or otherwise secured along their upper edges to the aforesaid strips 2 and 3, as indicated at 6, with the upper edges of the side members out or otherwise formed, to conform with the curvatures of said strips 1 and 2, the lower edges of the side members 5 being formed in any manner to simulate the lower body portion of the frog or the like.

It will be understood that the body of the frog orthe like may be formed in any suitable manner so long as it has a chamber 7 therein. If the body is formed as hereinbefore described, a spacing block 8 is preferably located within the body to effectively aid in supporting the side members 5 and to provide a support for a purpose presently explained.

A pair of front legs 9, formed peculiarly to the shape of frog legs, are secured rigidly to the body A. by means of suitable fastenings l0 and located preferably substantially midway of the ends of the body as shown.

An axle .11 is journaled in the lower ends of the front pair of legs 9 and carry traction wheels 12. The axle 11 has a crank bend 13 to which is pivotally connected a rearwardly directed link 14. The inner end of said link is pivotally connected with a shaft 15 con necting the side members 16 of an upper hind leg section B of a frog or the like, the side members 16 of the upper leg section being pivoted at 17 to the rear of the body A and spacing collars 18 maintaining said link 14 intermediate the ends of said shaft 15, as shown.

A lower hind leg section C including side members 19 have pivotal connection with the side members 16 of the upper hind leg section- B, the pivotal connection being eflected by a rear axle 20 which carries wheels 21. The side members 19 of the lower hind leg section may be bifurcated, as at 22, to receive pinched portions of leather or other suitable material constituting flexible feet 23. These feet may V be secured in said bifurcations by means of a connecting rod 24 between the side members 19 of the lower hind leg section C.

The inner ends of the side members 19 extend forwardly of the rear axle 20, as at 19 and these extensions 19 are connected by a rod 25 and with the rod form crank arm extensions.

Spacing sleeves 26 are mounted on the rod and between the inner ends of the spacing sleeves 26 is pivotally connected the lower end of a link 27, which extends upwardly across the aforesaid link 14 and has its upper end pivotally connected to a rod 28 connecting the side members 5 in advance of the pivotal connection 17 of the upper hind leg members 16, there being spacing sleeves or collars 29 on the rod 28 between which the upper end of the controllin link 27 is pivoted.

A soun producing device of any suitable character is located within the body A of the frog or the like and may be of any suitable character to emit the usual barking or croaking sound of a frog, or other noise of whatever character the living thing represented may make. As shown, the sound producing device is one calculated to emit the usual croakin sound of a frog and may consist of a soun box or drum 30 secured in any suitable manner to the aforesaid support 8, within the body of the frog. This drum has an upper open end with its lower end closed by means of a suitable dia- 35 phragm 31 against which a vibratory element D strikes intermittently. This vibrator member D is in the form of a substantia y U-shaped member, including arms 32 and 33 and a bight portion forming a striker 34. The vibratory member I) may be secured in position in any suitable manner, but it is, preferably secured to the support 8 by means of a staple or the like 35 with the striker portion 34 maintained slightly spaced from the drum head 31, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, and having the other longer arm 32 free for yielding movement to be moved to set up vibrations therein.

This arm 32 of the vibratory element D lies normally in the path of'movement of a lug 36 projecting laterally from the aforesaid link 14 so that as the link shifts longitudinally of its length by reason of its connection with the crank bend 13 of the front axle, the lug 36 engages the free end of the spring or resilient arm 32 of the vibratory member D and moves it toward the leg 33, moving the striker 34 away from thediaphragm or drum head and as the link 14 continues to move under the influence of the crank bend of the front axle the lug 36 rides off of the yieldable arms 32 when the striker 34 snaps quickly against thediaphragm of the drum, emitting a sound characteristic of the noise of a frog, repeating the noise in more or less rapid succession every time the lug 36 is brought by its travel, coincident with rotation of the crank bend of the front axle, into engagement with and release from the yieldable arm 32. The rapidity of the croaking noise depends upon the speed upon which the toy is moved over a supporting surface.

In one aspect of the invention the toy may be pulled over the supporting surface by means of a cord 37 connected to the bight portion of a substantially V-shaped link 38 having its arms provided with eyes 39 embracing the front axle 11 on opposite sides of the crank bend 13, but it will be understood that any means other than this common pull means shown, may be employed.

Assuming the frog to be in a sitting position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a forward movement of the toy, will effect rotation of the crank axle and swing the crank downwardly and rearwardly and thereby move the link 14 rearwardly. The link 14 being pivoted to the upper section of the hind legs, causes said upper leg section to swing rearwardly on the pivot 17 to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. During this swinging rearward movement of the upper section of the hind legs, the body A is rocked on the axle 11 as a fulcrum or pivot. In other words, during the first part of the swing of the upper leg sections 16 on the pivot 17, incident to the link connection 14 with it and the crank axle 11, the rear end of the body A is raised until the u )per leg section 16 swings from under the body A rearwardly thereof when the rear end of the body A drops or falls, gradually falling to the positi on shown in Fig. 4. As the rear upper leg section 16 moves rearwardly, the short link connection 27, pivotally connected with the body and with the extension or crank end of the lower leg section, effects pivotal movement of the lower leg section 19 on the rear axle. 20 to throw the lower leg section 19 outwardly from their folded relation with the upper leg section to an extended position with relation to the upper leg section, as shown particularly in Fig. 4. As the crank bend of the front axle 11 continues its rotation the link is carried forwardly with the result that the upper leg section 16 moves from the position shown in Fig. 4 iuwardlv to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the short link 27 causes the lower leg section 1.9 to be drawn inwardly on its pivot 20 into folded relation with the upper leg section 16.

It will thus be seen that as the toy is moved over a supporting surface, the hind legs colla ase and unfold, with an up and down movement of the rear end of the body A taking place between the two positions and that the toy leaps out of sitting position to a stretched out position. During this operation of the toy the sound producing device is actuated through the instrumentality of the lateral projection 36 of the link 14 riding off the resilient leg 32 connected with the striker 3a which strikes the drum head of the drum 30 to create a noise such as the croaking sound of a frog or other living thing with which the sound producing device is associated. The sound is made preferably each time the body A starts to leave sitting position. The

speed of movement of the toy over a support ing surface determines the interval of time between the sounds.

By virtue of the construction and arrangement of elements hereinbefore described, the actions developed in the movements of the toy are relatively fast or quick, depending, of course, upon the speed of movement of the toy over the supporting surface, but there may be obtained a quick sitting posture of the bony of the toy followed by a quick leaping action with the sitting and the leaping taking effect alternately and very closely simulating the action of a jumping or leaping living thing and at one limit of movement of the difierent position there is emitted a sound or noise characteristic of a barking or creaking noise.

That is claimed is:

1. A figure toy including a body, wheeled supporting means on which the body is mounted for up and down movement, upper and lower pivotally connected leg sections pivoted to the body in the rear of said wheeled supporting means, wheels for the support of said upper and lower leg sections, a crank connection between the wheeled supporting means and the pivotally connected leg sections to cause said up and down movement of the body when the toy is moved over a supporting surface, and connecting means between said pivotally connected leg sections and the body whereby to give relative movement to the said pivotally connected leg sections as the body moves up and down.

2. A figure toy includin a body, wheeled supporting means on which the body is mounted for up and down movement, upper and lower pivotally connected rear leg sections simulating ointed collapsible hind legs, and pivotally connected to said body, a crank connection between the wheeled supporting means and the hind leg sections, whereby to effect the up and down movement of the body when the toy is moved over a supporting surface, and a. connection between the body and the hind leg section, whereby to alternately r collapse the leg sections, one within the other and to extend the latter as the body moves over the supporting surface.

3. A figure toy lnc-luding a body, wheeled supporting means having rigid connection with the body and including a crank axle and on which supporting means the body is mounted for up and down movement, upper and lower leg sections pivotally connected at their inner ends and the upper leg section being pivotally connected to the rear end of the body, wheels carried by one of said pivotally connected leg sec-tions,-the lower sections extending forwardly of said wheels, a link connection between the wheeled support-- ing means and the upper leg section, and a link connected with the body and with the lower leg section in advance of said wheels, whereby when the toy is moved over a supporting surface the body is moved up and down and the pivotally connected leg sections caused to alternately collapse and extend.

4. A toy comprising a body shaped to simup late the body of a frog, front legs rigidly secured to the body, rear legs composed of pairs of upper and lower sections pivotally connected at their adjacent ends, the upper leg section being pivoted to the body adjacent the rear end thereof, a crank axle pivotally supporting the front legs and provided with traction wheels, rear wheels supporting the rear leg sections and connected with the same at the pivotal connection between the leg sections, a link connecting the crank axle with the upper leg section to cause a backward and forward pivotal movement of the latter, and a link connecting the body and the lower leg section to cause pivotal movement of the lower leg section simultaneously with a backward and forward movement of the upper rear leg section.

5. A figure toy comprising a body, a pair of wheels on which the body is mounted for up and down movement, upper and lower piv-.

otally connected sections constituting extensible and collapsible hind legs pivotally connected to the rear end of the body, a link connec-tion between said pair of wheels and the upper section of the hind legs to move the upper section of the hind legs backwardly and forwardly and to move the body up and down, and a link connection between the body and the lower leg section whereby to alternately extend and collapse the pivotally connected leg sections as the toy is moved over a supporting surface.

6. A figure toy including a body, front legs rigidly secured to the body and having their lower ends directed forwardly, a crank axle journaled in the forwardly directed ends of the front legs, traction wheels carried by the crank axle and which serve as a pivot on which the body has up and down movement, pairs of upper and lower leg sections pivoted together at their inner ends and constituting jointed hind legs, the upper leg section being pivoted to the body, wheels mounted on the pivotal connection at the inner ends of said pairs of leg sections, the inner end of the lower leg section projecting forwardly in advance of the last men tioned wheels, a link having pivotal connection with the forwardly extending portion of the lower leg section and also having pivotal connection with the body in advance of the pivotal connection of the upper leg section with the body, and a iink connection between the crank axle and the upper leg section whereby upon movement of the toy over a supporting surface the body and lowor leg section move up and down with a simultaneous backward and forward movement of the upper leg section.

V 7. A figure toy including a body, a wheeled supporting means at the front of the body, a wheeled supporting means at the rear of the body and including upper and lower .pivotally connected, collapsible and extensile, hind leg sections having pivotal connection with the body, means arranged between the wheeled supporting means and the body and the hind leg sections whereby to effect an up and down movement of the body on the wheeled supporting means and means between the body and the hind leg sections to effect an alternate collapsing and extending of the lower hind leg section with relation to the upper hind leg section to create a jumping action of the body as the toy is moved over a supporting surface with the hind leg sections trailing behind the body when the same are extended.

8. A figure toy comprising a body simulating a frog, means for supporting the body for an up and down movement, pivotally connected hind legs pivotally connected with the body for relative pivotal movement, and means for effecting relative pivoted 'movement of the hind legs and to move the body up and down on the supporting means so as to provide for an alternate sitting posture with the hind leg sections folded under the body and aleaping action with the hind legs extended and trailing behind the body as the toy is moved over a supporting surface.

9. A toy including a body shaped to simulate a frog, front legs secured to the body, an axle carried by said legs, wheels carried by the said axle, the latter having a crank bend, collapsible and extensible hind legs pivotally connected with the body at the rear of the latter, a link pivotally connected with the crank bend of said axle and pivotally connected to the hind legs, and another link pivotally connected to the body and to the hind legs whereby movement of the toy over a surface produces an up and down movement of the body and a collapsing and extending of the hind legs and give an alternate sitting and leaping action to the body.

10. A toy including a body shaped to simulate a frog, front legs secured to the body, an axle carried by said legs, wheels carried by the said axle, the latter having a crank bend, collapsible and extensible hind legs comprising upper and lower leg elements pivotally connected together, and the upper leg elements of which are connected to the body at the rear of the latter, a link pivotally connected with the crank bend of said 63? axle and pivctally connected to the upper leg elements of the hind legs and mother link pivotally connected to the body and to the lower leg elements of the hind legs whereby movement of the toy over a surface produces an up and down movement of the body on said wheels and effects an alternate collapsing of the leg elements and an extencb ing of the hind legs rearwardly of the body, and sound producing means operable by one of said links in movement to produce an intermittent creaking sound.

11. A toy of the character described comprising a body mounted for an up and down movement, pivotally connected hind legs pivoted to the rear end of the body, and disposed normally folded under the body, means whereby to move the body up and down and having connection with said hind legs, and means pivotally connected with the body and pivotally connected with the hind legs whereby, upon moving the toy over a supporting surface, to unfold the legs and extend them trailing in the rear of the body.

12. A figure toy comprising a body, a pair of wheels on which the body is mounted for u and down movement, upper and lower pivotally connected hind leg sections pivotally connected to the rear end of the body, means between said pair of wheels and the upper hind leg section to move the upper hind leg section backwardly and forwardly with relation to the body and to move the body up and down on said pair of wheels, means between the body and the lower leg section whereby to alternately extend and collapse the pivotally connected leg sections as the body moves up and down under the influence of the backward and forward movement of the upper hind leg section, and wheels carried by the pivoted connection between the leg sections.

13. A wheeled toy comprising a body simulating a frog, said toy having a body supporting means simulating the forward legs of the frog and having thereupon wheel traction means for functioning as the toy is drawn across a supporting surface, said toy having hingedly connected sections movable in vertical planes and serving at all times to support a portion of the body and collectively simulating the hind legs of the frog and connected to the body in a manner to assume full folded position under the body simulating a sitting posture of the frog and for passing to a full extended or unfolded and trailing position for simulating during said movement a juinpng movement of the frog, and means operatively connecting said wheel traction means and said hind leg structure whereby as said toy is drawn over the supporting surface said hind legs successively pass from and to full folded position and to and from unfolded position.

14. A toy of the character described, comprising a body, a wheeled supporting means on which the body moves up and down, the supporting means including a crank axle, pivotally connected hind legs pivotally connected to the body, a link pivoted to the crank axle and to one of the hind leg members, and a link pivot-ally connected to the other hind leg member and crossing the aforesaid link and pivoted to the body whereby the leg members are collapsed below the body and extended to trail behind the body, a ternately, when the toy is moved over a supporting surface.

15. A toy of the character described comprising a body, a wheeled supporting means including a crank axle and on which supporting means the body has up and down movement, leg sections pivotally connected together for relative pivotal movement in a vertical plane, one of said leg sections being pivoted to the said body, a link connected to the crank axle and to one of the leg sections at a point below the pivotal connection of the leg sections with said body, and a link connection between the body and one of the leg sections at a point in advance of the pivotal connection between the leg sections whereby to simultaneously move the body up and down and collapse and extend the hind leg sections as the toy is moved over a sup porting surface.

16. A toy of the character described comprising a body, a wheeled sugaorting means for the body on which the body has up and down movement, the supporting means including a crank axle, pivotally connected inner and outer hind leg sections each con sisting of a pair of spaced parallel side members having connections between them, the outer section having a rod connecting its parallel members in advance of the pivotal connection between the hind leg sections, a link pivotally connected at one end to said rod and at its opposite end pivotally connected to the body, and a link pivotally connected at one end to said crank axle and at its opposite end pivotally connected to one of the connections between the spaced parallel members of the inner hind leg section whereby to alternately colla se and ext-end the leg sections and also to move the body up and down.

17. A toy of the character described comprising a body, a wheeled supporting means for the body on which the body has up and down movement, the wheeled supporting means including a crank axle, pivotally connected hind leg sections pivotally connected to the rear end of the body for relative pivotal movement in a vertical plane, a link connection between the crank axle and the rear hind leg sections, and a link connection between the rear hind legs and the body whereby to swing the rear hind legs in a vertical plane to and from opposite sides of said body and to effect relative pivotal movement of the hind leg sections, the two links crossing each other and whereby to alternately collapse and extend "the hind leg sections and effect an up and down movement of the body.

18. A toy including a body, a wheeled supporting means for the body, collapsible and extensible legs at all times supporting a portion of the body and pivotally connected together for relative movement and pivotally connected to the body and operable to alternately collapse below the body and to move to extended relation and trail behind the body, and a connection between the wheeled supporting means and the legs and between the legs and the body whereby to actuate the legs as aforesaid when the toy is moved over a supporting surface.

19. A toy of the character described comprising a body mounted for an up and down movement, pivotally connected hind legs pivoted to the rear end of the body, means whereby to move the body up and down and having connection with the hind legs, and means pivotally connected with the body and pivotally connected with the hind legs in advance of the pivotal connection between the hind legs whereby, upon moving the toy over a supporting surface, to alternately collapse the legs and extend them trailing in the rear of the bod the body moving up and down during the movements of the legs to said alternate positions.

20. In a jumping figure toy comprising a body simulating the body of a frog or similar jumping specimen of life, and pivotally connected rear leg sections comprising a body leg section and a. rearwardly extending free leg section, which body leg section is pivot-ally connected at the upper end thereof to the body and at the lower swinging end thereof to the forward portion of the rearwardly ex tending free leg section, said toy being characterized in that the toy is provided with a crank, a first link, a sound producing member for producing a creaking or barkin sound when a resilient striking member thereof is released, and a second link, which said second link is connected at one end to the body and at the other end to the free leg section, whereby as the body leg section swings forwardly the free leg section moves relative to the body leg section to assume a folded position and whereby as the body leg section swings rearwardly the free leg section tends to assume unfolded or extended position, the said crank being located near the forward part of the body, one end of said first link being connected to the arm of said crank and the other or rear end of the first link being connected to said body leg section so as to effect a swinging movement of the body leg section in a forward direction as the crank arm moves through the upper half of its revoluton first in an upwardly forward direction and subsequently in a forward downward direction, said first link carrying a portion thereupon which engages the free end of the resilient striker so as to move the striker, from its retracted normal functioning position, forwardly while the crank is moving said first link in a forward direction, the arrangement being such however that upon the downward rearward movement of the crank there is efi'ected a release of the striker thereby produring the croaking or barking sound simultaneously with the starting of the leg sections to move to unfolded or extended position. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FROHMAN ANDERSON. 

